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Erik Miller, image- MiLB.com Lefty hurler Erik Miller is widely regarded as one of the Phillies most promising prospects.  Selected in the 4th round in last year's draft out of Stanford, he quickly made an impact as a professional and was promoted twice in his brief stint in the minors. At three levels as a 21-year-old, Miller notched a 1-0 record with a 1.50 ERA, a .188 batting average against, a 1.11WHIP along with a 13.0 K/9 mark in 11 appearances in the minors.   Listed at six-feet-five, 240-pounds, Miller was outstanding in college as well.  In his junior season (2019), Miller was named as a Baseball America second team Preseason All-American. In 16 starts that season, he posted an 8-3 record with a 3.48 ERA, a .224 batting average against and an 11.1 K/9 mark.   Miller likely could have made it to the Double-A level this year, if the pandemic had not preempted the minor league season. Recently, I spoke with the 22-year-old Missouri native about his ...

Dom Pipkin, image- Jay Floyd Righty pitcher Dominic Pipkin spent the 2019 season with the Class A BlueClaws.  In 24 appearances he tallied a 3-4 record with a 5.15 ERA, a 1.62 WHIP along with a .261 batting average against. Pipkin was a 9th round draft selection in 2018 and is among the organization's most promising hurlers. This week I spoke with the 21-year-old (his birthday is today!) California native about his time at Fall Instructs and more.  Read ahead for that interview. -What can you share about the benefits of Fall Instructs this year following a cancelled regular season?   Instructs after a cancelled season allowed the few players that went to  get live reps in after 6 months of nothing, it was good to get the rust  off and feel that first inning jitter again. -Did you or other players there go harder during your month at Instructs as opposed to a regular fall exhibition schedule that follows an action-packed regular season? We definitely tried a li...

Subscribers of my Patreon site have gotten some details from the Phillies' Fall Instructs in recent days.   The Florida Instructional League is an annual month-long off-season combine that will feature workouts as well as practices and regularly pits players from different organizations against one another in exhibition games.  This year's version in a pandemic impacted world won't see different teams facing one another, but the Phillies' players will see exhibition competition, as the organization is slated to have some intrasquad games in the coming weeks. Players that are currently in Clearwater, FL seeing some long overdue time on the field include this year's first round draft selection Mick Abel.  The high school hurler inked a deal for over $4 million dollars after  being taken with the 15th overall pick in June. Francisco Morales, image- Jay Floyd Highly touted Venezuelan pitcher Francisco Morales is also in attendance.  The 20-year-old right-han...

Kevin Gowdy, image- Jay Floyd Righty hurler Kevin Gowdy has a successful season as a member of the Class A Lakewood BlueClaws this year. After missing two full seasons following UCL surgery, the 2016 second round draft pick finally made it through a year totally healthy. In 24 games with the Claws, the California native posted a 0-6 record with a 4.68 ERA and a .281 batting average against. Recently, I talked with the 22-year-old about his off-season, his progress during the regular season and more. Read ahead for that complete interview. -What have you been up to since the season wrapped up as far as baseball work? So after the season wrapped up September 2nd, I went to instructs for two weeks to work on pitch design, I was out in Florida for another two weeks for strength camp and have also had some much-enjoyed time with friends and family. -How long do you rest and avoid picking up a baseball? And during that time are you doing any conditioning or other sorts...

Photo via Logan O'Hoppe's Twitter The Phillies Gulf Coast League West team saw a promising backstop emerge last summer as 18-year-old Logan O'Hoppe impressed with his statistics and his work behind the dish. Selected in the 23rd round of last year's draft by the Phillies, O'Hoppe quickly signed and made an impact in the Rookie level short-season GCL. In 34 games, the righty batting Long Island native sported a .367/.411/.532 slash line and was a standout leader for his pitching staff according to coaches. If O'Hoppe continues to pile on the production and enjoys some swift progress, it won't be long before the youngster is impacting betting odds, like those found on this page . Recently, I chatted with O'Hoppe about his thoughts on his initial professional campaign, an injury he suffered at Fall Instructs, how he's preparing for his first full professional season in 2019 and more.  Read ahead for that complete interview. -In hinds...

Jake Scheiner, image- Jay Floyd Jake Scheiner is a prospect that really made a name for himself last season.  The 23-year-old was a 4th round draft selection in 2017 and became an All-Star in his first full season in the minors. In 122 games for the Class A Lakewood BlueClaws last year, the righty batting University of Houston product posted a .296 average with 13 home runs, 67 RBI and 10 stolen bases while manning several positions on defense.  Scheiner played second base and third base fresh out of the draft in 2017, but added left field and first base to his repertoire during the regular season this year. Last week I talked with Jake about his thoughts on his first complete professional campaign, giving the catcher position a whirl in the Florida Instructional League this off-season, how he's preparing for next year and plenty more.  Read ahead for my interview with him. -In hindsight, what are your thoughts on your 2018 season?  What were the best ...

Matt Vierling, image- Jay Floyd Outfielder Matt Vierling was a key mid-season addition to the Lakewood BlueClaws lineup that made it to the Class A South Atlantic League finals.  In 50 games, the 22-year-old posted a .293 batting average with 15 doubles, six homers and 25 RBI. A 5th round draft selection this year by the Phillies out of Notre Dame, Vierling posted a .420/.453/.580 slash line in 12 games with short-season Class A Williamsport prior to joining the BlueClaws. Earlier this month, I talked with Vierling, a Missouri native, about his transition from college ball to the minors, heading the the fall instructional league, experiencing New Jersey for the first time and plenty more.  Read ahead for that full interview.  -What experiences did you have prior to the draft that prepared you for pro baseball? Well, going through college at Notre Dame, there's a lot of things in college with the academics and everything and the baseball, playing in a toug...

Adam Haseley, image- Jay Floyd Selected by the Phillies with the 8th overall pick in this year's MLB draft, outfielder Adam Haseley proved to be a promising talent during his half-season as a pro. The 21-year-old lefty batter tallied a .284 average with three home runs, 28 RBI and six stolen bases in 58 games at three levels, including the final 18 contests with Class A Lakewood. This off-season Haseley, a native of Florida has spent much of his off-season in and around Clearwater, training at the Phils' facilities there.  Recently, I spoke to the Virginia product about his initial experiences in the minors, his efforts since the season ended, meeting Roy Halladay prior to his passing and more.  Read ahead for that full interview. -Was there a standout lesson you took from your first season as a professional player that you know will stick with you for years to come? I would say two things; one, getting used to playing every day, in the sense of gettin...

Fall instructional league got underway over the weekend. Instructs, as it's commonly referred to, is a month-long off-season league, generally consisting of recently drafted players and foreign signees, players that missed time due to injury, or those that participated in short-season leagues, allowing those individuals to refine their skills or add innings/at bats to their season. It also serves as an opportunity for a greater number of developmental coaches to see newly signed players and those they've not been exposed to in action. Here's the Phillies' complete roster of players listed in attendance is listed below. PITCHERS Victor Arano Kyle Bogese Ismael Cabrera Austin Davis Yan De La Cruz Elniery Garcia Scott Harris Matt Imhof Carlos Indriago Tanner Kiest Franklyn Kilome Brandon Leibrandt Sam McWilliams Adonis Medina Aaron Nola Chris Oliver Felix Paulino Ricardo Pinto Edubray Ramos Calvin Rayburn Nick Rodesky Carlos Salazar Ranger Suarez...

Throughout the off-season, I'll be checking in with various players from around the Phillies organization to see how they're staying in shape and how they're keeping busy during the colder months. This round I chatted with righty pitching prospect Nic Hanson , who had a solid season in the minors for the Phillies this year.  Last year's 16th round draft selection began the season with Class A Lakewood where he sported a 2-2 record along with a 2.49 ERA and a 7.1 K/9 mark in 16 total outings.  Following a groin issue that sidelined him in May, Hanson returned to the BlueClaws, posting a 1.09 ERA over five starts which earned a promotion to Class A Advanced Clearwater.  In five starts with the Threshers, the California native went 0-2 with a 6.23 ERA. Following the season, the six-foot-seven 210-pounder made up for some missed time from the regular season by spending time at the fall instructional league. This week I spoke with Nic about his time at instructs, ...

Shane Watson, photo- Jay Floyd A pair of injured Class A prospects have used time at the Fall Instructional League to rehab their ailments and grow close to a return to the field. Phillies top 2012 draft choice (40th overall) Shane Watson has been sidelined since July with shoulder inflammation while third baseman Mitch Walding , the team's fifth round pick in 2011, missed time with a broken rib dating back to the latter portion of August. Neither player will see game action at instructs, but each of them is nearly ready to get back to full baseball activities. Watson, a righty hurler, has been progressing through a rehab program that included arm slot correction therapy and throwing on flat ground. The 20-year-old is slated to throw his first bullpen session in many weeks this Saturday at the Phils' training facility in Clearwater, FL. Instructs will wrap up next week and Watson will continue to follow a strict throwing program through the off-season, after he ret...

At long last, thanks to the Twitter feed of Baseball Prospectus writer Chris King , the info I've been asked for many times this month is finally available. Here is the complete Phillies' Fall Instructional League roster... Pitchers- Drew Anderson Tyler Buckley Edgar Campusano Ranfi Casimiro Daniel Child Zach Cooper Seranthony Dominguez Delvi Francisco Mitch Gueller Jordan Guth Nic Hanson Denton Keys Manaure Martinez Mark Meadors Angel Mejia Will Morris Nefi Ogando Ricardo Pinto Yacksel Rios Alexis Rivero Feliberto Sanchez Matt Southard Jesen Therrien Tyler Viza Kevin Walter Catchers- Corey Bass Deivy Grullon Andrew Knapp Jesus Posso Jake Sweaney Infielders- Malquin Canelo Art Charles J.P. Crawford Grenny Cumana Luis Encarnacion Zach Green Jan Hernandez Andrew Pullin Mitch Walding Trey Williams Outfielders- Venn Biter Dylan Cozens Carlos Duran Larry Greene Jr. Bryan Martelo ...

Shane Watson, Image- Jay Floyd The Florida Instructional League will provide an opportunity for a pair of Lakewood hurlers that were sidelined with injuries this summer to make up for some missed time. Shane Watson and Zach Cooper will be among the Phillies prospects spending time in Clearwater at "instructs" over the next several weeks.  The pair will be able to put themselves on display for organizational coaches and brass while they take strides to excel and bounce back from injuries that forced them to miss time this year. Watson, who has been sidelined since early July with shoulder inflammation, saw a specialist on Monday and was cleared to begin a throwing program.  The 20-year-old was the Phillies' top selection (40th overall) in last year's amateur draft out of Lakewood High School in California. In 15 starts this season for the Class A BlueClaws, the six-foot-four 200-pounder posted a 4-6 record with a 4.75 ERA and a .230 batting average against....

We're back with episode 40 of the PhoulBallz Minor League Podcast.  On this week's edition, Jay and Tug are joined by Phillies righty pitching prospect Shane Watson who discusses his recovery from a shoulder issue and playing with diabetes.  Topics also include Cameron Rupp , Freddy Galvis , Jonathan Papelbon and the entire Phils organization failing to place a single team in the postseason. Use the media player below to stream the full episode, or simply download it by clicking HERE . You can also check out previous episodes and subscribe on iTunes .